It’s easy to dismiss single-use household items—after all, they’re advertised as “one and done,” so why bother saving them? Well, a lot of those so-called single-use items serve far more functions than you think! Here are 20 everyday items to creatively reuse.
1. Newspaper
Combat smelly shoes by stuffing newspaper into your sneakers. You can do this in between uses or stuff them in the winter. The paper soaks in the moisture and thereby the odor.
2. Empty Squeezable Bottle
Thoroughly clean out a condiment bottle and use it for pancake batter! You remove all the mess made by ladles and can reuse them as long as you want. Squeezable bottles also help you get every last drop into the pan.
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3. Old Towels
Old towels can easily be downgraded to cleaning rags. What makes these so great is that they’re washable and absorbent, which helps get stubborn stains out.
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4. Toilet Paper Rolls
Don’t be so quick to recycle these—they’re perfect for cables! You can either feed wires through the roll or cut it lengthwise to stick directly onto the cables. They’re cardboard, too, which means easy labeling!
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5. Coffee Cans
Coffee cans are perfect for storage and DIY projects. Stick them in the garage to sort out nuts and bolts, or convert them into planters. Believe it or not, coffee cans also make great homemade birdfeeders!
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6. Disposable Razors
Give disposable razors a second life by removing pilling with them. They work wonders on clothing with particularly thick fabric, like cardigans or wool coats. You don’t need any other tools either, and even razors at the end of their shower lives can still prove useful.
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7. Stained Mugs
Coffee-stained mugs may not be aesthetically pleasing, but that doesn’t mean they’re without purpose. If you can’t part with your favorite mug, turn it into a simple pencil holder. They won’t take up a ton of desk space and can live a second life as the cutest accessory.
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8. Egg Cartons
Rescue small Christmas ornaments with egg cartons! You already know you can rely on them for ample protection, and now you won’t have to worry about broken glass next time you put up the tree.
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9. Tissue Boxes
Place an empty tissue box on your bathroom counter as a DIY garbage. These little boxes are perfect for discarded cotton swabs or facial pads, allowing you to get quite a bit of use out of them.
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10. Aluminum Foil
Did you know that you can scare away garden pests with a bit of foil? You can cover potted plants to keep away larger critters, like squirrels, or shred some into your mulch to handle insects.
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11. Candle Jars
Remove that stubborn wax layer and give your candle jars another life! They’re wonderful storage for simple bathroom items like cotton balls or swabs. You can also stick makeup brushes inside.
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12. Shoeboxes
Shoeboxes make for amazing storage. Of course, you don’t want 20 of them in the house, but one or two help organize everything from sewing supplies to jewelry. They’re also handy come Christmastime as perfect gift boxes.
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13. Toothbrushes
Old toothbrushes still have enough scrubbing power to tackle bathroom grime. Use them to scrub grout lines or get all that gunk behind faucets—it’s even better if you have an old electric toothbrush.
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14. Shower Curtain
Shower curtains can find new meaning as tarps or even windshield protectors, so don’t be so quick to discard them. Bring them camping with you to lay under your tent, or cut them to size and protect your windshield from frost.
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15. Old Socks
Stop spending money on dog toys! Your pup doesn’t need anything fancy to play with, which is where an old sock comes in handy. Tie a knot and use it for tug-of-war or fetch.
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16. Pill Bottles
Empty pill bottles can still save the day by housing additional first aid supplies—stick bandages, cotton swabs, or OTC medications inside. Resuing pill bottles helps you stay organized and safe.
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17. Empty Jars
Empty jars belong in the kitchen, not the recycling bin. They can hold all kinds of items like bulk goods, spices, or even sauce you intend to freeze. After a thorough wash, they’d also make terrific DIY vases.
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18. Tennis Balls
Tennis balls are surprisingly versatile around the house—they childproof furniture if you wedge them onto sharp corners, can help remove scuff marks, and even reduce grime in pools.
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19. Magazine Files
Do your Tupperware lids keep disappearing? Save yourself a headache down the road with a simple magazine file. They’re portable and slim, meaning they fit in most drawers or even atop counters. Place all your lids inside so you know exactly where to look next time.
20. Pop Tabs
Convert pop tabs into picture hangers with just a screw and screwdriver. Place the tab on the back of the frame and drive a screw through the tab’s smaller hole. You can then hang pictures with the bigger hole!
